Youngsters party at library

BOOK loving youngsters gathered at Sidmouth Library to celebrate completing a summer-long reading game.

As part of a nationwide programme encouraging children to read, the library ran the six-week Space Hop game.

Participants had to read six books and chart their progress on a poster the library gave them.

The five-11 year olds could read anything they liked and, after every two books, they got a sticker.

Around 100 children started the game and those who reached six received a certificate, gold medal and glow-in- the dark bracelet.

To mark their efforts, a fancy dress party was held at the museum. Twenty-five children came along dressed as aliens, with their parents, and there was a competition for families, based on their knowledge of the library.

Devon’s head of libraries and information services, Ciara Eastell ,attended and cake and tea was laid on.

Although the library has run the scheme previously, this is the first time such an event has been held.

Library manager Gill Spence said: “We thought we’d make a bit of a party out of it this year. It went really well, and caused a buzz among members of the public who were in the library at the time.”